Utility rack



July 18, 195 0 A. R. CARTER 2,515,293

UTILITY RACK Filed Dec. 12, 1946 Mg {W5 m. /7

-fi -717 I 5 I I I A? I 0 /6 /7 kw Inventor 5 J4 FRED A. CARTER Patented July 18, 1950 UTILITY RACK Alfred B. Carter, Brooklyn, N. 1 assignor of onethird to Ramon Montalvo and one-third to Gustav J. Tallaksen, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,739 I v This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display racks and more particularly to a rack adapted to hold neckties, stockings, towels, etc.

The primary feature of this invention is to provide, a necktie rack comprising a housing fastened to a supporting surface, and havinga plurality of parallel arms swingably carried by said housing and connecting means for said arms so that as one of said arms is pulled forwardly in an ,open position all of said arms are also swung into an opened position, and as one of said arms is moved inwardly against the housing the remaining arms are also pivotally swung against the housing.

Another important feature of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to that is adapted to hold kitchen utensils or other articles in a convenient position occupying a relatively small space.

A further important feature of this invention is to provide a device of this character that is neat and attractive in appearance, efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the rack constructed in accordance with the present invention fastened to a supporting structure (shown in part) Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the rack in a closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1 showing the arms in an opened position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 with parts broken away and shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral '5 represents generally a housing substantially inverted L -shaped and having its lower edge 6 bent inwardly to interlock with the lower 1 edge I of a longitudinal channel member 8 which opposes the inner face of said vertical forward wall 9 of said housing 5.

Bearing on said upper face of channel member 8 for longitudinal movement thereon is a sub- 4 Claims. (01. 21189) stantially V-shaped metal connecting strip or actuating bar lll'having a plurality of openings I I which are adapted to receive the downturned ends or cranks [2 of a plurality of L-shaped arms l3 having their outer ends inclined upwardly at l3a to form hooks.

are journaled for rotation in vertically aline'd' openings I5 in said channel member 8 to provide for a horizontal swinging movement of the outer ends of the arms.

The arms l3 are swung into a closed position as shown in Figure 2 bymerely swinging any oneof said arms inwardly, whereby the metal connecting strip l0 causes all of said arms to swing inwardly in parallel relationship to each other.

A slight forward and outward pull on any one of the arms l3 brings the entire plurality of arms into the opened position as shown in Figure 1.

Extendin outwardly from the rear of the ends I6 of the housing are tongues l! which are adapted to receive screws or the like [8 for attaching the device to a supporting structure l9 preferably positioned horizontally on said structure.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those ski1led in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A utility rack of the class described comprising an elongated hollow housing adapted to be horizontally secured to a support, said housing including a bottom structure and an intermediate horizontal partition, a plurality of substantially L-shaped article suspending arms having their vertical portions journaled in vertically aligned openings in said bottom structure and in said partition for frontal and rearward swinging movement, a downwardly projecting crank extension on the upper ends of the arms, and an actuating bar connecting the crank extensions to each other, said bar being slidable on the partition and of V-shape to provide upper and. lower flanges, the former having openings receiving the downwardly projecting crank extensions of the arms whereby a movement of one of said arms causes a like movement of all arms.

2. A utility rack of the class described comprising an elongated hollow horizontally disposed housing having an inwardly turned lower edge portion bent upon itself, an outwardly facing longitudinal channel member within the housing having its lower edge bent inwardly to interlock with the rebent portion of said housing, a plurality of substantially "L-shaped arms having their vertical portions journaled in vertical openings in said channel member, and a substantially V- shaped movable bar connecting the upper ends of said arms, whereby a frontal or rearward movement of one of said arms causes a like movement of all arms.

3. A utility rack of the class described comprising an elongated housing of inverted L-sh'ap'e in cross section having its lower edge lportion bent inwardly and rebent upon itself, fastening means carried by said housing for securing said housing horizontally to a support, an outwardly facing longitudina1 channel member within the housing havingits :lower edge bent inwardly to interlock the lower edge of said housing, a pluralityof substantially L-sha-ped article suspending arms having-their vertical portions journaled for rotation in vertical openings in said channel member, said vertical portions having cranks, and a substantially .V-shaped movable bar :connecting the cranks of said arms, whereby 'a frontal or rearward movement of one of said arms-causes "a like movement of all arms.

:4. A utility rack of the "class described comprising an elongated housing of inverted L-shape d in cross section having its lower edge portion bent inwardly and rebent upon itself, fastening means carried by said housing for securing same in a horizontal position to a support, an outwardly facing longitudinal channel member within said housing having its lower edge bent inwardly to interlock with the lower edge of said housing, a plurality of L-shaped arms on which articles are adapted to be suspended, the vertical portion of said arms journaled for rotation in vertica1 openings in said channel member, and having downturned upper ends, and a connecting bar slidable on the upper face of said channel member, said bar having a plurality of openings adapted to receive the downturned upper ends of said arms whereby a frontal or rearward movement of one of said arms causes a like movement in all arms.

ALFRED R. CARTER.

REFERENGES CITED l he i 'oll'owing references are of record in ithe fire of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name pare r 1,913,215 Schwartz et al. s June '6, 1,940,951 -Hortenau c Dec. 26, 1933 2,128,606 :Devoss, Jr. 1 Aug. 30, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date U 631312 Germany Dec."2,19'34 

